Following nearly annihilating the world, our relatives are allies’: the thrilling audio series featuring JFK and Khrushchev’s descendants.

During the month of October 1962, the world came nearer toward annihilation than at any other point in recent history. This happened following the discovery that a US surveillance aircraft identified the fact that Soviet atomic missile installations were being built in Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. In response, President John F Kennedy ordered the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to impose a maritime blockade around the island. The next phase constituted nearly 14 days of unbearable stress.

The Unthinkable Danger

The danger was clear. If President Kennedy, or the Soviet counterpart, Premier Khrushchev, initiated an attack against the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and retaliatory strikes might have followed, plunging mankind into all-out ruination.

The October crisis has been examined endlessly, in volumes, movies, and television programmes. But, in its latest installment, the audio documentary series The Bomb introduces a novel element into this historical narrative. It is jointly hosted featuring Kennedy's relative and Khrushchev's descendant, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, held the fate of the world in their hands.

"What was the Russians thinking? What was Washington thinking?" ponders Khrushcheva, Khrushchev’s great-granddaughter who is also a professor specializing in global relations.

For her, the strength of the show lies in its attempt to question: "How can individuals hate one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"It struck me how profound the fact that people can be allies or can become complete enemies," adds Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently a writer as well as lawyer. "We see this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, highlighting how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Precipice of Catastrophe

What’s striking regarding the Cuban missile crisis was that, because it unfolded in the global spotlight, citizens worldwide could watch nearly as it happened while it moved closer to catastrophe. Nonetheless, the danger of destruction was more imminent than what anybody realised.

"The overwhelming majority in the White House were advocating for an airstrike followed by an invasion," says Kennedy. "If we had attacked the Cubans with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly Soviet forces on the ground would have fired a nuclear warhead against the American ships, and that would've destroyed the naval vessels as well as sunk our primary fleet. In turn, we would have responded with massive retaliation which would have ended all life on the planet."

The reality this did not occur stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in exercise restraint while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating military action. Consequently, Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) removed American missiles based in NATO ally Turkey. The sense of relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of optimism.

A Divergent Viewpoint

Yet, during those 13 days in October, the tension was felt globally. The Bomb’s co-hosts came into the world shortly after these events, with Khrushcheva learned about the crisis through the USSR's school curriculum, which presented an alternative picture of what happened.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a scary time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people really didn’t know that much regarding the crisis, because it was a tense situation, and under the Soviet system the official line was that things are always fine or sunny."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. The leaders managed to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a positive outcome," she adds. In the years to come, however, that view would not be shared by everybody. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a defeat for the Soviet leader, because he refrained from destroying America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is remarkably even-handed , well produced that Nina quips it almost made her forget she already knew outcome. This is, in part, due to contributions from renowned scholars. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking aspect remains the involvement of the hosts themselves. Not so long ago, it would be inconceivable that relatives of the heads of state of the United States and the USSR would appear together publicly. The fact that Max Kennedy and Nina Khrushcheva are able to do so, and be so warm toward one another, has to be a sign of hope.

"We aren't the first," smiles Khrushcheva. "Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, my uncle moved to America and became great friends with Dwight Eisenhower’s children."

"However we had never met prior to this project," adds Max. "That is unfortunate since we connected really well and now we are friends, which is really great. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the planet, our families have become friends, suggesting global relations is safer, somewhat."

Modern Parallels with Present Dangers

Is that truly the case? One reason the reason The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now are living in dark times. The Doomsday Clock stands nearer to catastrophe than ever before, partly since world leaders appear not to be able to grasp